(The Center Square) – Leaders at the University of Wisconsin will soon be asked, again, to explain why they fired the UW’s president.
University regents on Tuesday voted to fire UW President Jay Rothman. But they didn’t offer any reasons as to why.
“The Universities of Wisconsin must be led with a clear vision that both protects and strengthens our flagship, supports our comprehensive universities, and ensures we are meeting the evolving needs of our students, workforce and communities across all 72 counties,” Regents President Amy Bogost read in a statement to reporters.
Rothman said last week that he was told to resign or be fired. He chose not to resign.
His exit is not going over well with Republican lawmakers.
State Sen. Rob Hutton, R-Brookfield, said regents owe Rothman and the people of Wisconsin an explanation.
“The Board of Regents once again appears to be distracted by politics and unable to concentrate on addressing the big picture challenges the UW System faces. Instead of focusing on major structural and curriculum reforms throughout the entire system, the Regents seem determined to stray into backroom maneuvering that further diminishes the reputation of the UW brand and undermines its long-term mission of preparing our students for an ever-changing marketplace,” Hutton said in a post on social media.
Hutton sits as the head of the State Senate’s Committee on Universities, which is scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. on Thursday to hold a hearing on the confirmations of 10 members of the UW System Board of Regents who are not yet confirmed by the Senate.
Rep. Dave Murphy, R-Hortonville, who heads the Assembly’s Committee on Colleges and Universities called for a formal hearing into the decision to fire Rothman.
“The Board owes Wisconsin taxpayers, students, and families a full explanation,” Murphy added. “They should provide specific reasons or stand down from this effort. This hearing will ensure accountability and transparency in our University of Wisconsin System.”
Murphy said a hearing date will be announced in the next few days.
Rothman took over as UW president in 2022 and oversaw both the closure of some of the UW’s two-year campuses, and a historic deal to get millions of dollars more to the university system.
UW Regents say they will now begin the search for a new university president.
